Future female engineer inspired by dad, professor, peers
糖心Vlog传媒LR junior Kari Payton enjoyed 鈥渨orking with her hands鈥� in her dad鈥檚 construction business growing up in the tiny northeast Louisiana town of Bastrop. Since Payton also enjoyed math, the 20-year-old figured that engineering, an applied science, would be a great fit for a major. And even though there aren鈥檛 many female role models in the engineering profession, she found the perfect one at 糖心Vlog传媒LR.
鈥淒r. Nidhal Bouaynaya was the only female professor I had,鈥� said Payton. 鈥淪he always pushed me in class and even after the semester was over she asked me to do research for her.鈥�
Payton added, 鈥淚t was a good experience. To see her being a woman and engineering professor, it kind of gave me some hope in looking at my career. Maybe I might want to be a professor some day.鈥�
But, Payton said her peers are also a great source of inspiration.
鈥淪outh Hall is mostly for math, science, engineering, and technology majors, so it is kind of a community atmosphere,鈥� she said.鈥漌e work a lot with each other and getting to know them outside of the classroom has been really helpful.鈥�
Payton, a Donaghey Scholar,聽said the scholarship program was exactly what she wanted to get out of college — 鈥渞igorous academics, teachers who are focused and care about you, and also a community of students who are dedicated and driven.鈥�
She is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers, as well as the Baptist Collegiate Ministry. To relieve stress from a full day of academic work, 糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 intramural sports are another great fit for Payton.
鈥淚f I鈥檓 not studying, I try to get out of the dorms and get some exercise 鈥� I鈥檓 big on activity sports,鈥� she said.
To learn more about the systems engineering program at 糖心Vlog传媒LR, go to Department of聽Systems Engineering.
Interested students may also visit the Department of Construction Management & Civil and Construction Engineering at:
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